diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index e0018599..de2d6736 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ To publish [scoped packages](https://docs.npmjs.com/misc/scope#publishing-public
 }
 ```
 
+If publishing a scoped package for the first time, `np` will prompt you to ask if you want to publish it publicly.
+
 ### Private Org-scoped packages
 
 To publish a [private Org-scoped package](https://docs.npmjs.com/creating-and-publishing-an-org-scoped-package#publishing-a-private-org-scoped-package), you need to set the access level to `restricted`. You can do that by adding the following to your `package.json`:
diff --git a/source/npm/handle-npm-error.js b/source/npm/handle-npm-error.js
index 36586c93..fa191c51 100644
--- a/source/npm/handle-npm-error.js
+++ b/source/npm/handle-npm-error.js
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ const handleNpmError = (error, task, message, executor) => {
 		);
 	}
 
+	// Attempting to privately publish a scoped package without the correct npm plan
+	// https://stackoverflow.com/a/44862841/10292952
+	if (error.code === 402 || error.stderr.includes('npm ERR! 402 Payment Required')) {
+		throw new Error('You cannot publish a privately scoped package without a paid plan. Did you mean to publish publicly?');
+	}
+
 	return throwError(error);
 };
 
diff --git a/source/ui.js b/source/ui.js
index 5114986f..4d4001ba 100644
--- a/source/ui.js
+++ b/source/ui.js
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ module.exports = async (options, pkg) => {
 		...options,
 		version: answers.version || answers.customVersion || options.version,
 		tag: answers.tag || answers.customTag || options.tag,
+		publishScoped: answers.publishScoped,
 		confirm: true,
 		repoUrl,
 		releaseNotes